The welcoming is the theme. In Panama you can get a Resident Visa with prof of a 500$ a month income. What's Thailand, 40,000$ locked into a bank account for five years?

Yes, we as Gringos can never escape the jacket they've put on us; drive a beat up old car, dress in rags, eat tacos on the street and the locals will just think it's a poor man facade, so we won't be asked for anything.

I'm not so sure, at the social level, I'm made to feel more welcome because I have the income of an army Sargent or a traffic cop. I doubt my friends would dump me if I somehow convinced them I am not, nor ever have been a richie. Of course if I had a traffic accident and owed the victim thousands of dollars the law would expect me to come up with the cash. Whereas a national would too, he/she might have friends in high places. They, the law, would assume I don't.

..."but that Thainess really comes shining through"...

...locally educated then...

Cool, I went to Thailand to mix with the folks, not to visit temples. If I don't feel welcome I'm outta there. In many cases the attitudes and opinions of the ruling class trickle down. That's a bad omen.

I'm siding with Kidefi. Guadalajara is sn outstanding retirement location, esp for a North American who can be home in a few hours.

A one bedroom condo at Colonias Americas on the edge of a top class entertainment area is $350 a month. Electricty laughably cheap - I just paid $10 for two months use.

Spanish is ten times easier to pick up than Thai. For those interested in the p2p market is starts at $10.00. There's no need to get involved in it - Badoo will bring you outstanding freebies.

Me? I love the genuine social interaction. Once the locals suss you ain't a snobbish up-yourself gringo they open up. And you don't have that sinking feeling that you are being long-firmed.

I've met one CM lady here married to an American. She adores it here, even more than California.

With the benign visa system mentioned by the OP, this place is a great bet for those struggling under tge drop in sterling. My lowball estimate for living here would be £600 a month. That's a standard British pension. Anyone with an income of £1000 a month would have a great life here. More than that and you'd be rolling in it.

How so? With the living expense so low, you can sit in my local top top class bar/cafe and drink a litrd of beer for £1.50. A bottle of whisky in the local bars is £22.00. Leave it behind the bar and finish it tomorrow just as you do in Thailand.

Street vendor hotdog £0.40, good breakfast buffet - £2.50. Same price for all you can eat Chinese buffet. You'd be stuffed on £5.00 a day. Do it cheaper if you eat at home.

No 90 day reports, no stressing on a daily basis and accepting Orwellian diktats. some of would be doing yourselves and your Thai partners a great favour by moving here for a year. I'll lay you short odds your Thai partner will not want to move back.

Good one Mango. My rent is 1500mxn a month. What's that, about 80usd? My electricity is going up. It's at about 20 bucks for 2 months. Gasoline is expensive, super market shopping trying to eat like a Gringo is expensive.

T, Mexico isn't for you, Latin America isn't for you. North Carolina isn't for you. I'm glad you are at home in the swamp. You've been there a long time.